\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tThe Marshall Star for March 27, 2024\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/h1>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n![\"David](\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/ceb-3425-min11.jpg?w=1536\")
<\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\nMarshall Hosts 37th Small Business Alliance Meeting<\/strong><\/h2>\nBy Celine Smith<\/em><\/p>\nNASA\u2019s Marshall Space Flight Center hosted its 37th<\/sup> Small Business Alliance meeting March 21 at the U.S. Space & Rocket Center\u2019s Davidson Center for Space Exploration. The event brought together hundreds of attendees from 39 states and 21 countries to network and learn about opportunities to do business with NASA.<\/p>\n\u201cToday is about bringing the NASA marketplace directly to small businesses so they cannot only learn about how to get involved at NASA, but specifically in Huntsville and at Marshall,\u201d said David Brock, small business specialist in Marshall\u2019s Office of Procurement.<\/p>\n
\n\n\n![\"David](\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/ceb-3425-min11.jpg?w=2048\")
<\/figure>\nDavid Brock, small business specialist at NASA\u2019s Marshall Space Flight Center, talks to attendees at the 37th Small Business Alliance meeting March 21. <\/div>\nNASA\/Charles Beason<\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\nThe mayors of Huntsville, Madison, and Decatur gave a series of welcome remarks and thanked small businesses for their positive impact on their communities and the local economy.<\/p>\n
Lisa Bates, deputy director of Marshall\u2019s Engineering Directorate, emphasized the importance of small businesses to Marshall. \u201cWe have had so many tremendous accomplishments and so much of that is due to partnerships with small businesses,\u201d Bates said. \u201cWe\u2019ve done this together as a team.\u201d<\/p>\n
\n\n\n![\"Kathy](\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/ceb-3437-min8.jpg?w=2048\")
<\/figure>\nKathy Rice, center, an information technology specialist at Marshall, talks with an attendee about the center\u2019s small business capabilities. <\/div>\nNASA\/Charles Beason<\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\nBates said that small businesses make up more than half of NASA\u2019s suppliers and 32 of the 45 SLS (Space Launch System) suppliers in Alabama.<\/p>\n
\u201cI truly believe that teamwork and partnership is at the heart of every great achievement, and I look forward to being successful and exceptional with each of you,\u201d said Bates.<\/p>\n
Smith, a Media Fusion employee, supports the Marshall Office of Communications.<\/em><\/p>\n\u203a Back to Top<\/a><\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\nTake 5 with Mitzi Adams<\/strong><\/h2>\nBy Wayne Smith<\/em><\/p>\nMitzi Adams watched several astronauts walk on the Moon when she was a teenager during NASA\u2019s Apollo missions. That\u2019s when Adams realized she wanted to be a NASA scientist. She also envisioned having an office on the lunar surface by 2000.<\/p>\n
Today, Adams is<\/em> a NASA scientist at the agency\u2019s Marshall Space Flight Center. She is the assistant manager of the Heliophysics and Planetary Science branch of the Science and Technology Office. And while she doesn\u2019t have an office on the Moon, she does see a path for future scientists and explorers to reach that destination.<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"Mitzi](\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/me-cosmos-fullres-0600188-1.jpg?w=1334\")
<\/figure>\nMitzi Adams is a NASA scientist at the agency\u2019s Marshall Space Flight Center. She is the assistant manager of the Heliophysics and Planetary Science branch of the Science and Technology Office, where she is responsible for the day-to-day operations of the branch.<\/div>\nNASA\/Emmett Givens<\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\u201cWe are on the cusp of landing another human on the Moon for the first time in more than 50 years,\u201d said Adams, who has worked at NASA for 35 years. \u201cThis time, however, there is a desire for a sustained presence, as well as a renewed interest in scientific research and discovery. If I were a high school student today, I feel that there would be a high probability that at least one of my offices would be located on the Moon in the not-too-distant future. There are many possibilities for this generation of students to be heavily involved in human space exploration. This is truly exciting.\u201d<\/p>\n
Heliophysics<\/a> encompasses the study of the Sun and its effects on Earth, the solar system, and space itself. With the focus on the upcoming total solar eclipse April 8<\/a>, Adams said participating and organizing NASA outreach events for the 2017 eclipse is one of the proudest moments of her career.<\/p>\n\u201cWe partnered with the city of Hopkinsville, Kentucky, Austin Peay State University, the U.S. Space & Rocket Center, and The INSPIRE Project to involve high school students and the public in observations and science experiments surrounding the 2017 solar eclipse,\u201d said Adams, who is from Atlanta, Georgia. \u201cWe presented science topics to the students and allowed them to choose their observation site, based on their interests. In the intervening years since the eclipse, those INSPIRE Project students have been extremely successful, both in academics and in the business world. One of those students graduated from the Air Force Academy in 2022. That student is currently in flight school and expects to earn her wings in the next couple of months. We like to think that we were a positive influence on her and that the eclipse inspired her to obtain a STEM degree.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
Question:<\/strong> What excites you most about the future of human space exploration, or your NASA work, and your team\u2019s role it?<\/p>\nAdams:<\/strong> For the safety of astronauts who will remain on the surface of a world devoid of a protective atmosphere, as well as when traveling between the Earth and the Moon (or Mars), it is imperative that we understand better the Sun and space weather. To date, through a fleet of spacecraft studying the Sun, we have made great strides in nowcasting solar events, such as flares and coronal-mass ejections. In addition, through a sounding-rocket program, our scientists have contributed to basic knowledge of solar physics and are beginning to unravel the puzzle surrounding magnetic-reconnection events in the solar atmosphere that may be causing flares and coronal-mass ejections.<\/p>\nQuestion: <\/strong>Who or what drives\/motivates you?<\/p>\nAdams:<\/strong> Many things. As a teenager, I was inspired by Edgar Mitchell, lunar-module pilot on Apollo 14, whom I met and pestered throughout his life. He never discouraged me from my goals and always encouraged. I have always been a science fiction fan. I think my first science fiction book as a third-grade student was \u201cHave Space Suit \u2013 Will Travel,\u201d by Robert Heinlein. So, it was only natural that I became a Star Trek fan. From Star Trek, I was inspired by Nichelle Nichols, who played Lt. Uhura, and Leonard Nimoy, who played Mr. Spock, a science officer.\u00a0<\/p>\nWhen I speak to students, I ask what they think is the most important attribute of a scientist. The answer I seek from them is curiosity<\/em> \u2013 puzzles and mysteries drive and motivate me. Observing the Sun, I have seen eruptions and phenomena that I want to understand, which drives me to access those data and do the analysis!\u00a0<\/p>\nQuestion: <\/strong>Who or what inspired you to pursue an education\/career that led you to NASA and Marshall?<\/p>\nAdams:<\/strong> I\u2019ve always wanted to be a scientist and I could have studied geology or astronomy. Since becoming an astronaut also was a goal, I decided that astronomy would be the best path. Specifically, as I was about to obtain my undergraduate degree from Georgia State University, I thought I needed internship experience. Since one of my caving friends, Joe Dabbs, worked at Marshall, I asked if he knew anyone who might need a summer student. Joe put me in touch with Ron Moore with NASA and Gordon Emslie of the University of Alabama in Huntsville (UAH), who hired me for the summer. They apparently were pleased with my work because they suggested I apply to UAH for graduate school and to the graduate co-op program. I was accepted by both and earned a master\u2019s degree in physics from UAH, after which I was hired by Marshall as a research scientist in solar physics.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\nQuestion:<\/strong> What advice do you have for employees early in their NASA career or those in new leadership roles?<\/p>\nAdams:<\/strong> Networking is important. Engage with colleagues at meetings and seek out collaborations. Read research papers and contact those scientists who are included in the references list. Don\u2019t be intimidated by scientists who have a lot of experience. If a problem\/question in your research world is appealing, find ways you can contribute to finding solutions and ask the first or second author scientist if you can help.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\nQuestion: <\/strong>What do you enjoy doing with your time while away from work?<\/p>\nAdams:<\/strong> Believe it or not, I enjoy reading Latin in small doses and have read two of the Harry Potter books in Latin, with help from two friends. I also enjoy hiking on trails, playing with my 3-year-old white Shepherd named Albus, which means white in Latin, and reading and watching science fiction.<\/p>\nSmith, a Media Fusion employee and the Marshall Star editor, supports the Marshall Office of Communications.<\/em><\/p>\n\u203a Back to Top<\/a><\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\nSteven Wofford Named Manager of SLS Stages Office at Marshall<\/strong><\/h2>\nSteven J. (Steve) Wofford has been named to the Senior Executive Service position of manager of the SLS (Space Launch System) Stages Office at NASA\u2019s Marshall Space Flight Center.<\/p>\n
In his new role, he will lead activities and operations associated with the core stage, associated main propulsion systems, and integration of the vehicle avionics system.\u00a0Wofford\u00a0also will be responsible for support equipment and facilities used in the design, development, test, and transfer of SLS core stages. He previously was appointed as manager of the Block 1B\/Exploration Upper Stage Development Office at Marshall in 2020.<\/p>\n
\n\n\n![\"Steven](\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/686085_wofford.jpg?w=1363\")
<\/figure>\nSteven J. (Steve) Wofford has been named to the Senior Executive Service position of manager of the SLS (Space Launch System) Stages Office at NASA\u2019s Marshall Space Flight Center.<\/div>\nNASA<\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\nFrom 2014 to 2020,\u00a0Wofford\u00a0was manager of the SLS Program\u2019s Liquid Engines Office at Marshall. From 2012 to 2014, he was deputy director of Marshall\u2019s Safety and Mission Assurance Directorate, where he was responsible for overseeing safe execution of all center programs, projects, and institutional services. He was business manager for the Safety and Mission Assurance Directorate from 2011 to 2012.<\/p>\n
From 2009 to 2011,\u00a0Wofford\u00a0was deputy manager of the Space Shuttle Main Engine Project Office at Marshall, helping to see the shuttle program to its successful conclusion in 2011. He was Shuttle Propulsion chief safety officer for the Safety and Mission Assurance Directorate from 2006 to 2009, formulating and communicating flight safety guidance and serving as Marshall\u2019s safety technical authority on a wide gamut of propulsion technical issues.<\/p>\n
In 2005 and 2006, he led engine component design and development for engine technologies supporting the Ares I and Ares V launch vehicles, next-generation rocket development programs that helped inform work resulting in the design, delivery, and manufacture of SLS engine systems.<\/p>\n
Wofford\u00a0began his NASA career in 2000 as a subsystem manager in Marshall\u2019s Space Shuttle Main Engine Project Office. Before that, he supported the agency for more than 13 years as a contractor engineer, conducting assessment engineering and project integration engineering duties in support of the space shuttle main engine.<\/p>\n
A Huntsville native,\u00a0Wofford\u00a0earned a bachelor\u2019s degree in mechanical engineering in 1986 from the University of Alabama, and a master\u2019s degree in aerospace engineering in 1991 from the University of Alabama in Huntsville.<\/p>\n
His numerous career honors include a NASA Exceptional Achievement Medal in 2009 for his leadership in defining, implementing, and executing safety and mission assurance technical authority for the Space Shuttle Program. He also received a NASA Silver Snoopy Award in 1998, presented to team members who have made significant contributions to the human spaceflight program; and a Spaceflight Awareness Award in 1992 for his contributions as a contractor to the space shuttle main engine. In 2018, he was named a distinguished fellow of the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa\u2019s College of Engineering.<\/p>\n
Wofford\u00a0and his wife, Marisa, reside in Huntsville and have two sons.<\/p>\n
\u203a Back to Top<\/a><\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\nMarshall\u2019s Women of Excellence Host Author for Women\u2019s History Month Event<\/strong><\/h2>\nThe Women of Excellence employee resource group at NASA\u2019s Marshall Space Flight Center hosted an event March 18 in association with Women\u2019s History Month.<\/p>\n
\n\n\n![\"Shehnaz](\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/women-of-excellence1-edited.jpg?w=1901\")
<\/figure>\nShehnaz Soni, center, a NASA senior systems engineer, author, and speaker, smiles with Women of Excellence members following her March 18 presentation to the employee resource group at NASA\u2019s Marshall Space Flight Center. The event was a part of Women\u2019s History Month in March. From left are Kristina Honeycutt, Leah Varner, Denise Smithers, Soni, LaBreesha Batey, Aquita Wherry, and Anastasia Byler.<\/div>\nNASA\/Danielle Burleson<\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\nThe event, titled \u201cSelf-Ignite into Destiny: A Pivot from Stressful Environments,\u201d was part of NASA\u2019s agencywide table-talk series.<\/p>\n
Shehnaz Soni, a NASA senior systems engineer, author, and speaker, discussed her story, methodologies to reduce stress, and the importance of self-care in a unique way, reiterating that \u201cWe Are the Quantum Being.\u201d<\/p>\n
Women of Excellence, or WE, is co-chaired by LaBreesha Batey and Denise Smithers. The group\u2019s aim is to help Marshall women reach their full potential and have access to equal opportunities at NASA. Team members can visit Inside Marshall to learn more about WE and other employee resource groups.<\/p>\n
\u203a Back to Top<\/a><\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\nMission Success is in Our Hands: Amit Patel<\/strong><\/h2>\nBy Wayne Smith<\/em><\/p>\nMission Success is in Our Hands is a safety initiative collaboration between NASA\u2019s Marshall Space Flight Center and Jacobs. As part of the initiative, eight Marshall team members are featured in testimonial banners placed around the center. This is the fifth in a Marshall Star series profiling team members featured in the testimonial banners. The Mission Success team also awards the Golden Eagle Award on a quarterly basis to Marshall and contractor personnel who are nominated by their peers or management. Candidates for this award have made significant, identifiable contributions that exceed normal job expectations to advance flight safety and mission assurance. Nominations are open now to team members online at Inside Marshall.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"Amit](\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/amit-horizontal-min.jpg?w=1920\")
<\/figure>\nAmit Patel is a Jacobs Space Exploration Group solid rocket motor design engineer supporting NASA\u2019s Marshall Space Flight Center.<\/div>\nNASA\/Charles Beason<\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\nAmit Patel is a Jacobs Space Exploration Group solid rocket motor design engineer supporting Marshall, where he has produced multiple iterations for solid rocket motors on NASA\u2019s Mars Ascent Vehicle and performed motor internal ballistics analysis on Space Launch System boosters and other programs. His key responsibilities include designing solid rocket motor grains, ensuring launch vehicles can meet mission requirements through ballistics performance analysis, manufacturing process flow, and testing.<\/p>\n
Patel has worked at Marshall for three years. He previously was a research engineer at the University of Alabama in Huntsville\u2019s Propulsion Research Center, where he worked on design and hot-fire testing of solid, liquid, and hybrids motors and developed a testbed for electric propulsion thrusters for small satellites. A North Alabama native, Patel earned his doctorate in aerospace systems engineering from the University of Alabama in Huntsville, along with a Master of Business Administration.<\/p>\n
Question:<\/strong> How does your work support the safety and success of NASA and Marshall missions?<\/p>\nPatel:<\/strong> My work directly contributes to the success of NASA and Marshall missions by ensuring that solid rocket motors are designed to meet the stringent performance and reliability requirements necessary for achieving target orbital insertions. Through careful motor optimization, requirements management, and post-test data analysis I can help maximize the probability of mission success.<\/p>\nQuestion:<\/strong> What does the Mission Success is in Our Hands initiative mean to you?<\/p>\nPatel: <\/strong>Overall, the Mission Success is in Our Hands initiative reminds us that whatever role we play, we all are an integral part in the technical excellence and unwavering dedication to safety in the pursuit of NASA\u2019s mission objectives. It serves as a reminder that the success of every mission is contingent upon the collective efforts and commitment of every individual involved, from engineers and scientists to administrators and support staff.<\/p>\nQuestion:<\/strong> How can we work together better to achieve mission success?<\/p>\nPatel:<\/strong> By prioritizing relationship-building within the team, we can harness the collective talents, creativity, and resilience of individuals to overcome engineering obstacles and contribute to the success of complex missions. We can build this synergy through enhanced communication, mutual respect and trust in one another, a shared understanding of goals and vision, and effective problem-solving when faced with challenges.<\/p>\nQuestion:<\/strong> Do you have anything else you\u2019d like to share?<\/p>\nPatel:<\/strong> The work we do in the aerospace industry has far-reaching implications that extend beyond the confines of Earth\u2019s atmosphere. By pushing the boundaries of exploration, innovation, and collaboration, we strive to leave a lasting legacy of progress and discovery that will benefit future generations and inspire them to reach even greater heights.<\/p>\nSmith, a Media Fusion employee and the Marshall Star editor, supports the Marshall Office of Communications.<\/em><\/p>\n\u203a Back to Top<\/a><\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\nPanelists Highlight Centennial Challenges at South by Southwest Conference<\/strong><\/h2>\nSouth by Southwest chose to feature a panel discussion on NASA\u2019s Prizes, Challenges, and Crowdsourcing program at this year\u2019s conference and festival in Austin, Texas, on March 10.<\/p>\n
Panelists from NASA\u2019s Marshall Space Flight Center, the agency\u2019s Johnson Space Center, and ICON Technology Inc. gave a presentation titled, \u201cHow NASA Supports Startups and Individuals to Collaborate on its Mission.\u201d The panel touched on several notable success stories from Centennial Challenges, the Center of Excellence for Collaborative Innovation, and NASA Tournament Lab, including ICON\u2019s journey from competing in NASA\u2019s 3D-Printed Habitat Challenge to securing multiple contracts and partnerships.<\/p>\n
\n\n\n![\"From](\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/sxsw-2.jpeg?w=2048\")
<\/figure>\nFrom left, panelists Steve Rader from NASA\u2019s Johnson Space Center, Angela Herblet from the agency\u2019s Marshall Space Flight Center, Andrew Rothgaber from ICON Technology, and Savannah Bullard from Marshall discuss NASA\u2019s Prizes, Challenges, and Crowdsourcing program at the South by Southwest Conference on March 10 in Austin, Texas.<\/div>\nNASA\/Bailey Light<\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\nCentennial Challenges are part of the\u00a0Prizes, Challenges, and Crowdsourcing program<\/a>\u00a0within NASA\u2019s\u00a0Space Technology Mission Directorate<\/a>\u00a0and are managed at\u00a0Marshall.<\/p>\nCentennial Challenges were initiated in 2005 to directly engage the public in the process of advanced technology development. The program offers incentive prizes to generate revolutionary solutions to problems of interest to NASA and the nation. The program seeks innovations from diverse and non-traditional sources. Competitors are not supported by government funding and awards are only made to successful teams when the challenges are met.<\/p>\n
The annual South by Southwest Conference celebrates the convergence of technology, film and television, music, education, and culture.<\/p>\n
\u203a Back to Top<\/a><\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\nShuttle, Family Inspire NASA\u2019s Cryogenic Technology Manager<\/strong><\/h2>\nBy Daniel Boyette<\/em><\/p>\nJeremy Kenny squinted his eyes as he looked toward the brilliant light. Then came the deafening sound waves that vibrated his body. This was the moment he\u2019d dreamed about since childhood.<\/p>\n
It was Nov. 16, 2009, at NASA\u2019s Kennedy Space Center, and Kenny and his wife were watching space shuttle Atlantis embark on a mission to the International Space Station. Kenny, who was less than two years into his NASA career, had the opportunity to see the liftoff from Launch Pad 39A as part of receiving the Space Flight Awareness Award for supporting the Space Shuttle Program\u2019s solid rocket booster flight program.<\/p>\n
\n\n\n![\"A](\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/jeremykennydnb-9081.jpg?w=2048\")
<\/figure>\nJeremy Kenny, manager of NASA\u2019s Cryogenic Fluid Management Portfolio Project, holds a model spacecraft for the proposed large cryogenic demonstration mission. The mission aims to demonstrate liquid hydrogen management, including near-zero propellant boil off and highly efficient propellant transfer, needed to achieve long-duration transit to\/from Mars and spacecraft loitering during on-surface campaigns.<\/div>\nCredit: NASA\/Danielle Burleson<\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\u201cThat was the first launch I ever witnessed in person,\u201d said Kenny, whose inspiration for working at NASA came from watching televised shuttle launches as a youth. \u201cIt was amazing and made me appreciate how such a powerful system could be designed and flown so successfully.\u201d<\/p>\n
With the final shuttle mission two years later, NASA set its sights on designing and building its future Artemis rocket: SLS (Space Launch System). Kenny was selected to lead the\u00a0SLS\u00a0Modal Acoustic Test program<\/a>, which helped engineers understand how loud the rocket would be during liftoff. He later joined another key Artemis effort, the\u00a0human landing system program<\/a>, as a technical manager, overseeing the development of lander systems that will transport astronauts to the Moon\u2019s surface.<\/p>\n\u201cArtemis is an inspiring campaign for future human spaceflight exploration,\u201d Kenny said. \u201cI worked with SLS, Orion, and Exploration Ground Systems, and it was very fulfilling to see all the pieces come together for the successful Artemis I launch.\u201d<\/p>\n
In January, Kenny was named manager of NASA\u2019s\u00a0Cryogenic Fluid Management<\/a>\u00a0(CFM) Portfolio project, where he oversees a cross-agency team based at NASA\u2019s Marshall Space Flight Center and Glenn Research Center. The CFM portfolio includes innovative technologies to store, transfer, and measure ultra-cold fluids \u2013 such as liquid hydrogen, liquid oxygen, and liquid methane. These cryogens are the most common propellants in space exploration, making CFM integral to NASA\u2019s future exploration and science efforts.<\/p>\n\u201cWe must mature CFM technologies to support future flight mission architectures,\u201d said Kenny. \u201cThe strong partnership between Marshall and Glenn in CFM maturation continues to produce excellent results, enabling in-space cryogenic systems vital to NASA\u2019s Moon to Mars vision.\u201d<\/p>\n
Kenny\u2019s choice of profession comes as little surprise, given his family background. He had a grandfather and an uncle who worked with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in the family\u2019s hometown of Vicksburg, Mississippi. From them, Kenny learned how math and physics could be implemented in real-world applications. He earned three degrees in mechanical engineering: a bachelor\u2019s from Mississippi State University in Starkville, a master\u2019s from Georgia Tech in Atlanta, and a doctorate from the University of Alabama in Huntsville.<\/p>\n
\u201cMy grandfather showed me various engineering software programs he worked on to simulate ground terrains for military transportation systems,\u201d Kenny said. \u201cMy uncle worked on engineering developments for various military systems; he was a key influence for me to pursue graduate degrees in mechanical engineering.\u201d<\/p>\n
When Kenny\u2019s not working to evolve technology for NASA\u2019s future deep space exploration missions, he\u2019s spending time with his wife and their two daughters, who are involved in choir and dance.<\/p>\n
\u201cWatching them practice and perform inspires me,\u201d Kenny said with a smile. \u201cMy biggest challenge is balancing my professional work, which I love, and spending time with my family, who I love. With work comes many exciting opportunities, and solving hard problems is fun. But that excitement should not detract from keeping your personal relationships healthy. One day, I\u2019ll retire and spend all my free time with family.\u201d<\/p>\n
The CFM Portfolio Project\u2019s work is under NASA\u2019s\u00a0Technology Demonstration Missions<\/a>\u00a0Program, part of NASA\u2019s\u00a0Space Technology Mission Directorate<\/a>, which oversees a broad portfolio of technology development and demonstration projects across NASA centers and American industry partners.<\/p>\nRead<\/a> more about Cryogenic Fluid Management.<\/p>\nBoyette, a Media Fusion employee, supports the Cryogenic Fluid Management Portfolio Project and Marshall\u2019s Office of Strategic Analysis & Communications.<\/em><\/p>\n\u203a Back to Top<\/a><\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\nNASA Continues Artemis Moon Rocket Engine Tests<\/strong><\/h2>\nNASA continued a key RS-25 engine test series for future Artemis flights of the agency\u2019s powerful SLS (Space Launch System) rocket March 22 and March 27 with hot fires on the Fred Haise Test Stand at NASA\u2019s Stennis Space Center.<\/p>\n
\n\n\n![\"a](\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/ssc-20240322-s00281h.jpg?w=2048\")
<\/figure>\nNASA continued a key RS-25 engine test series for future Artemis flights of the agency\u2019s powerful SLS (Space Launch System) rocket March 22 with a hot fire on the Fred Haise Test Stand at NASA\u2019s Stennis Space Center.<\/div>\nNASA\/Danny Nowlin<\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\nThe tests marked the 10th and 11th hot fire in a 12-test series to certify production of new\u00a0RS-25<\/a>\u00a0engines by lead contractor Aerojet Rocketdyne, an L3 Harris Technologies company.<\/p>\nOn March 22, the Stennis test team fired the certification engine for 500 seconds, or the same amount of time engines must fire to help launch the SLS rocket to space with astronauts aboard the Orion spacecraft. Operators powered the engine up to a level of 113%, which is beyond the 111% power level new RS-25 engines use to provide additional thrust. Testing up to the 113% power level provides a margin of operational safety.<\/p>\n
Newly produced engines<\/a> will power NASA\u2019s\u00a0SLS<\/a>\u00a0rocket on Artemis missions to the Moon and beyond, beginning with Artemis V. For Artemis missions I-IV, NASA and Aerojet Rocketdyne modified 16 former space shuttle engines for use on the SLS rocket. Four RS-25 engines fire simultaneously to help launch each SLS rocket, producing up to 2 million pounds of combined thrust.<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"a](\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/ssc-20240322-s00275h.jpg?w=2048\")
<\/figure>\nThe Stennis test team fired the certification engine March 22 for 500 seconds, or the same amount of time engines must fire to help launch the SLS rocket to space with astronauts aboard the Orion spacecraft.<\/div>\nNASA\/Danny Nowlin<\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\nNASA\u2019s Marshall Space Flight Center manages the SLS Program.<\/p>\n
Through\u00a0Artemis<\/a>, NASA will establish the foundation for long-term scientific exploration at the Moon, land the first woman, first person of color, and first international partner astronaut on the lunar surface, and prepare for human expeditions to Mars for the benefit of all. RS-25 tests at NASA Stennis are conducted by a diverse team of operators from NASA, Aerojet Rocketdyne, and Syncom Space Services, prime contractor for site facilities and operations.<\/p>\n\u203a Back to Top<\/a><\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\nPayload Adapter Testing: A Key Step for Artemis IV Rocket\u2019s Success<\/strong><\/h2>\nA test article of the\u00a0SLS (Space Launch System<\/a>) rocket\u2019s payload adapter is ready for evaluation, marking a critical milestone on the journey to the hardware\u2019s debut on NASA\u2019s Artemis IV mission.<\/p>\nComprised of two metal rings and eight composite panels, the cone-shaped payload adapter will be part of the SLS\u00a0Block 1B configuration<\/a>\u00a0and housed inside the\u00a0universal stage adapter<\/a>\u00a0atop the rocket\u2019s more powerful in-space stage, called the exploration upper stage. The payload adapter is an evolution from the Orion stage adapter used in the Block 1 configuration of the first three Artemis missions that sits at the topmost portion of the rocket and helps connect the rocket and spacecraft.<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"Key](\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/msfc-01302024-bldg-4708-pla-install-wide-angle-4833.jpg?w=2048\")
<\/figure>\nKey adapters for the first crewed Artemis missions are manufactured at NASA\u2019s Marshall Space Flight Center. The cone-shaped payload adapter, left, will debut on the Block 1B configuration of the SLS rocket beginning with Artemis IV, while the Orion stage adapters, right, will be used for Artemis II and Artemis III.<\/div>\nNASA\/Sam Lott<\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\u201cLike the\u00a0Orion stage adapter<\/a>\u00a0and the launch vehicle stage adapter used for the first three SLS flights, the payload adapter for the evolved SLS Block 1B configuration is fully manufactured and tested at NASA\u2019s Marshall Space Flight Center,\u201d said Casey Wolfe, assistant branch chief for the advanced manufacturing branch at Marshall. \u201cMarshall\u2019s automated fiber placement and large-scale integration facilities provide our teams the ability to build composite hardware elements for multiple Artemis missions in parallel, allowing for cost and schedule savings.\u201d<\/p>\nAt about 8.5 feet tall, the payload adapter\u2019s eight composite sandwich panels, which measure about 12 feet each in length, contain a metallic honeycomb-style structure at their thickest point but taper to a single carbon fiber layer at each end. The panels are pieced together using a high-precision process called determinant assembly, in which each component is designed to fit securely in a specific place, like puzzle pieces.<\/p>\n
\n\n\n![\"Teams](\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/dsc01640-2048x1537-1.jpg?w=2048\")
<\/figure>\nTeams at Marshall manufactured, prepared, and moved the payload adapter test article. The payload adapter will undergo testing in the same test stand that once housed the SLS liquid oxygen tank structure test article.<\/div>\nNASA<\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\nAfter manufacturing, the payload adapter will also be structurally tested at Marshall, which manages the SLS Program. The first structural test series begins this spring. Test teams will use the engineering development unit \u2013 an exact replica of the flight version of the hardware \u2013 to check the structure\u2019s strength and durability by twisting, shaking, and applying extreme pressure.<\/p>\n
While every\u00a0Block 1B configuration<\/a>\u00a0of the SLS rocket will use a payload adapter, each will be customized to fit the mission\u2019s needs. The determinant assembly method and digital tooling ensure a more efficient and uniform manufacturing process, regardless of the mission profile, to ensure hardware remains on schedule. Data from this test series will further inform design and manufacturing processes as teams begin manufacturing the qualification and flight hardware for Artemis IV.<\/p>\nNASA is working to land the first woman, first person of color, and its first international partner astronaut on the Moon under Artemis. SLS is part of NASA\u2019s backbone for deep space exploration, along with the Orion spacecraft and Gateway in orbit around the Moon and commercial human landing systems, next-generational spacesuits, and rovers on the lunar surface. SLS is the only rocket that can send Orion, astronauts, and supplies to the Moon in a single launch.<\/p>\n
\u203a Back to Top<\/a><\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\nChandra Identifies an Underachieving Black Hole<\/strong><\/h2>\nA new image shows a\u00a0quasar, a rapidly growing\u00a0supermassive black hole, which is not achieving what astronomers would expect from it, as reported in a press release<\/a>. Data from\u00a0NASA\u2019s Chandra X-ray Observatory<\/a>\u00a0(blue) and radio data from the NSF\u2019s Karl G. Jansky\u2019s Very Large Array (red) reveal some of the evidence for this quasar\u2019s disappointing impact on its host\u00a0galaxy.<\/p>\nKnown as H1821+643, this quasar is about 3.4 billion\u00a0light-years\u00a0from Earth. Quasars are a rare and extreme class of supermassive black holes that are furiously pulling material inwards, producing intense\u00a0radiation\u00a0and sometimes powerful\u00a0jets. H1821+643 is the closest quasar to Earth in a cluster of galaxies.<\/p>\n
\n\n\n![\"Quasar](\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/h1821.jpg?w=2048\")
<\/figure>\nThis composite image shows a quasar, a rare and extreme class of supermassive black hole. Known as H1821+643, this quasar is about 3.4 billion light-years from Earth.<\/div>\nX-ray: NASA\/CXC\/Univ. of Nottingham\/H. Russell et al.; Radio: NSF\/NRAO\/VLA; Image Processing: NASA\/CXC\/SAO\/N. Wolk<\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\nQuasars are different than other supermassive black holes in the centers of galaxy clusters in that they are pulling in more material at a higher rate. Astronomers have found that non-quasar black holes growing at moderate rates influence their surroundings by preventing the intergalactic hot gas from cooling down too much. This regulates the growth of\u00a0stars\u00a0around the black hole.<\/p>\n
The influence of quasars, however, is not as well known. This new study of H1821+643 that quasars \u2013 despite being so active \u2013 may be less important in driving the fate of their host galaxy and cluster than some scientists might expect.<\/p>\n
<\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\nMarshall Hosts 37th Small Business Alliance Meeting<\/strong><\/h2>\nBy Celine Smith<\/em><\/p>\nNASA\u2019s Marshall Space Flight Center hosted its 37th<\/sup> Small Business Alliance meeting March 21 at the U.S. Space & Rocket Center\u2019s Davidson Center for Space Exploration. The event brought together hundreds of attendees from 39 states and 21 countries to network and learn about opportunities to do business with NASA.<\/p>\n\u201cToday is about bringing the NASA marketplace directly to small businesses so they cannot only learn about how to get involved at NASA, but specifically in Huntsville and at Marshall,\u201d said David Brock, small business specialist in Marshall\u2019s Office of Procurement.<\/p>\n
\n\n\n<\/figure>\nDavid Brock, small business specialist at NASA\u2019s Marshall Space Flight Center, talks to attendees at the 37th Small Business Alliance meeting March 21. <\/div>\nNASA\/Charles Beason<\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\nThe mayors of Huntsville, Madison, and Decatur gave a series of welcome remarks and thanked small businesses for their positive impact on their communities and the local economy.<\/p>\n
Lisa Bates, deputy director of Marshall\u2019s Engineering Directorate, emphasized the importance of small businesses to Marshall. \u201cWe have had so many tremendous accomplishments and so much of that is due to partnerships with small businesses,\u201d Bates said. \u201cWe\u2019ve done this together as a team.\u201d<\/p>\n
\n\n\n<\/figure>\nKathy Rice, center, an information technology specialist at Marshall, talks with an attendee about the center\u2019s small business capabilities. <\/div>\nNASA\/Charles Beason<\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\nBates said that small businesses make up more than half of NASA\u2019s suppliers and 32 of the 45 SLS (Space Launch System) suppliers in Alabama.<\/p>\n
\u201cI truly believe that teamwork and partnership is at the heart of every great achievement, and I look forward to being successful and exceptional with each of you,\u201d said Bates.<\/p>\n
Smith, a Media Fusion employee, supports the Marshall Office of Communications.<\/em><\/p>\n\u203a Back to Top<\/a><\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\nTake 5 with Mitzi Adams<\/strong><\/h2>\nBy Wayne Smith<\/em><\/p>\nMitzi Adams watched several astronauts walk on the Moon when she was a teenager during NASA\u2019s Apollo missions. That\u2019s when Adams realized she wanted to be a NASA scientist. She also envisioned having an office on the lunar surface by 2000.<\/p>\n
Today, Adams is<\/em> a NASA scientist at the agency\u2019s Marshall Space Flight Center. She is the assistant manager of the Heliophysics and Planetary Science branch of the Science and Technology Office. And while she doesn\u2019t have an office on the Moon, she does see a path for future scientists and explorers to reach that destination.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\nMitzi Adams is a NASA scientist at the agency\u2019s Marshall Space Flight Center. She is the assistant manager of the Heliophysics and Planetary Science branch of the Science and Technology Office, where she is responsible for the day-to-day operations of the branch.<\/div>\nNASA\/Emmett Givens<\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\u201cWe are on the cusp of landing another human on the Moon for the first time in more than 50 years,\u201d said Adams, who has worked at NASA for 35 years. \u201cThis time, however, there is a desire for a sustained presence, as well as a renewed interest in scientific research and discovery. If I were a high school student today, I feel that there would be a high probability that at least one of my offices would be located on the Moon in the not-too-distant future. There are many possibilities for this generation of students to be heavily involved in human space exploration. This is truly exciting.\u201d<\/p>\n
Heliophysics<\/a> encompasses the study of the Sun and its effects on Earth, the solar system, and space itself. With the focus on the upcoming total solar eclipse April 8<\/a>, Adams said participating and organizing NASA outreach events for the 2017 eclipse is one of the proudest moments of her career.<\/p>\n\u201cWe partnered with the city of Hopkinsville, Kentucky, Austin Peay State University, the U.S. Space & Rocket Center, and The INSPIRE Project to involve high school students and the public in observations and science experiments surrounding the 2017 solar eclipse,\u201d said Adams, who is from Atlanta, Georgia. \u201cWe presented science topics to the students and allowed them to choose their observation site, based on their interests. In the intervening years since the eclipse, those INSPIRE Project students have been extremely successful, both in academics and in the business world. One of those students graduated from the Air Force Academy in 2022. That student is currently in flight school and expects to earn her wings in the next couple of months. We like to think that we were a positive influence on her and that the eclipse inspired her to obtain a STEM degree.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
Question:<\/strong> What excites you most about the future of human space exploration, or your NASA work, and your team\u2019s role it?<\/p>\nAdams:<\/strong> For the safety of astronauts who will remain on the surface of a world devoid of a protective atmosphere, as well as when traveling between the Earth and the Moon (or Mars), it is imperative that we understand better the Sun and space weather. To date, through a fleet of spacecraft studying the Sun, we have made great strides in nowcasting solar events, such as flares and coronal-mass ejections. In addition, through a sounding-rocket program, our scientists have contributed to basic knowledge of solar physics and are beginning to unravel the puzzle surrounding magnetic-reconnection events in the solar atmosphere that may be causing flares and coronal-mass ejections.<\/p>\nQuestion: <\/strong>Who or what drives\/motivates you?<\/p>\nAdams:<\/strong> Many things. As a teenager, I was inspired by Edgar Mitchell, lunar-module pilot on Apollo 14, whom I met and pestered throughout his life. He never discouraged me from my goals and always encouraged. I have always been a science fiction fan. I think my first science fiction book as a third-grade student was \u201cHave Space Suit \u2013 Will Travel,\u201d by Robert Heinlein. So, it was only natural that I became a Star Trek fan. From Star Trek, I was inspired by Nichelle Nichols, who played Lt. Uhura, and Leonard Nimoy, who played Mr. Spock, a science officer.\u00a0<\/p>\nWhen I speak to students, I ask what they think is the most important attribute of a scientist. The answer I seek from them is curiosity<\/em> \u2013 puzzles and mysteries drive and motivate me. Observing the Sun, I have seen eruptions and phenomena that I want to understand, which drives me to access those data and do the analysis!\u00a0<\/p>\nQuestion: <\/strong>Who or what inspired you to pursue an education\/career that led you to NASA and Marshall?<\/p>\nAdams:<\/strong> I\u2019ve always wanted to be a scientist and I could have studied geology or astronomy. Since becoming an astronaut also was a goal, I decided that astronomy would be the best path. Specifically, as I was about to obtain my undergraduate degree from Georgia State University, I thought I needed internship experience. Since one of my caving friends, Joe Dabbs, worked at Marshall, I asked if he knew anyone who might need a summer student. Joe put me in touch with Ron Moore with NASA and Gordon Emslie of the University of Alabama in Huntsville (UAH), who hired me for the summer. They apparently were pleased with my work because they suggested I apply to UAH for graduate school and to the graduate co-op program. I was accepted by both and earned a master\u2019s degree in physics from UAH, after which I was hired by Marshall as a research scientist in solar physics.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\nQuestion:<\/strong> What advice do you have for employees early in their NASA career or those in new leadership roles?<\/p>\nAdams:<\/strong> Networking is important. Engage with colleagues at meetings and seek out collaborations. Read research papers and contact those scientists who are included in the references list. Don\u2019t be intimidated by scientists who have a lot of experience. If a problem\/question in your research world is appealing, find ways you can contribute to finding solutions and ask the first or second author scientist if you can help.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\nQuestion: <\/strong>What do you enjoy doing with your time while away from work?<\/p>\nAdams:<\/strong> Believe it or not, I enjoy reading Latin in small doses and have read two of the Harry Potter books in Latin, with help from two friends. I also enjoy hiking on trails, playing with my 3-year-old white Shepherd named Albus, which means white in Latin, and reading and watching science fiction.<\/p>\nSmith, a Media Fusion employee and the Marshall Star editor, supports the Marshall Office of Communications.<\/em><\/p>\n\u203a Back to Top<\/a><\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\nSteven Wofford Named Manager of SLS Stages Office at Marshall<\/strong><\/h2>\nSteven J. (Steve) Wofford has been named to the Senior Executive Service position of manager of the SLS (Space Launch System) Stages Office at NASA\u2019s Marshall Space Flight Center.<\/p>\n
In his new role, he will lead activities and operations associated with the core stage, associated main propulsion systems, and integration of the vehicle avionics system.\u00a0Wofford\u00a0also will be responsible for support equipment and facilities used in the design, development, test, and transfer of SLS core stages. He previously was appointed as manager of the Block 1B\/Exploration Upper Stage Development Office at Marshall in 2020.<\/p>\n
\n\n\n<\/figure>\nSteven J. (Steve) Wofford has been named to the Senior Executive Service position of manager of the SLS (Space Launch System) Stages Office at NASA\u2019s Marshall Space Flight Center.<\/div>\nNASA<\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\nFrom 2014 to 2020,\u00a0Wofford\u00a0was manager of the SLS Program\u2019s Liquid Engines Office at Marshall. From 2012 to 2014, he was deputy director of Marshall\u2019s Safety and Mission Assurance Directorate, where he was responsible for overseeing safe execution of all center programs, projects, and institutional services. He was business manager for the Safety and Mission Assurance Directorate from 2011 to 2012.<\/p>\n
From 2009 to 2011,\u00a0Wofford\u00a0was deputy manager of the Space Shuttle Main Engine Project Office at Marshall, helping to see the shuttle program to its successful conclusion in 2011. He was Shuttle Propulsion chief safety officer for the Safety and Mission Assurance Directorate from 2006 to 2009, formulating and communicating flight safety guidance and serving as Marshall\u2019s safety technical authority on a wide gamut of propulsion technical issues.<\/p>\n
In 2005 and 2006, he led engine component design and development for engine technologies supporting the Ares I and Ares V launch vehicles, next-generation rocket development programs that helped inform work resulting in the design, delivery, and manufacture of SLS engine systems.<\/p>\n
Wofford\u00a0began his NASA career in 2000 as a subsystem manager in Marshall\u2019s Space Shuttle Main Engine Project Office. Before that, he supported the agency for more than 13 years as a contractor engineer, conducting assessment engineering and project integration engineering duties in support of the space shuttle main engine.<\/p>\n
A Huntsville native,\u00a0Wofford\u00a0earned a bachelor\u2019s degree in mechanical engineering in 1986 from the University of Alabama, and a master\u2019s degree in aerospace engineering in 1991 from the University of Alabama in Huntsville.<\/p>\n
His numerous career honors include a NASA Exceptional Achievement Medal in 2009 for his leadership in defining, implementing, and executing safety and mission assurance technical authority for the Space Shuttle Program. He also received a NASA Silver Snoopy Award in 1998, presented to team members who have made significant contributions to the human spaceflight program; and a Spaceflight Awareness Award in 1992 for his contributions as a contractor to the space shuttle main engine. In 2018, he was named a distinguished fellow of the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa\u2019s College of Engineering.<\/p>\n
Wofford\u00a0and his wife, Marisa, reside in Huntsville and have two sons.<\/p>\n
\u203a Back to Top<\/a><\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\nMarshall\u2019s Women of Excellence Host Author for Women\u2019s History Month Event<\/strong><\/h2>\nThe Women of Excellence employee resource group at NASA\u2019s Marshall Space Flight Center hosted an event March 18 in association with Women\u2019s History Month.<\/p>\n
\n\n\n<\/figure>\nShehnaz Soni, center, a NASA senior systems engineer, author, and speaker, smiles with Women of Excellence members following her March 18 presentation to the employee resource group at NASA\u2019s Marshall Space Flight Center. The event was a part of Women\u2019s History Month in March. From left are Kristina Honeycutt, Leah Varner, Denise Smithers, Soni, LaBreesha Batey, Aquita Wherry, and Anastasia Byler.<\/div>\nNASA\/Danielle Burleson<\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\nThe event, titled \u201cSelf-Ignite into Destiny: A Pivot from Stressful Environments,\u201d was part of NASA\u2019s agencywide table-talk series.<\/p>\n
Shehnaz Soni, a NASA senior systems engineer, author, and speaker, discussed her story, methodologies to reduce stress, and the importance of self-care in a unique way, reiterating that \u201cWe Are the Quantum Being.\u201d<\/p>\n
Women of Excellence, or WE, is co-chaired by LaBreesha Batey and Denise Smithers. The group\u2019s aim is to help Marshall women reach their full potential and have access to equal opportunities at NASA. Team members can visit Inside Marshall to learn more about WE and other employee resource groups.<\/p>\n
\u203a Back to Top<\/a><\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\nMission Success is in Our Hands: Amit Patel<\/strong><\/h2>\nBy Wayne Smith<\/em><\/p>\nMission Success is in Our Hands is a safety initiative collaboration between NASA\u2019s Marshall Space Flight Center and Jacobs. As part of the initiative, eight Marshall team members are featured in testimonial banners placed around the center. This is the fifth in a Marshall Star series profiling team members featured in the testimonial banners. The Mission Success team also awards the Golden Eagle Award on a quarterly basis to Marshall and contractor personnel who are nominated by their peers or management. Candidates for this award have made significant, identifiable contributions that exceed normal job expectations to advance flight safety and mission assurance. Nominations are open now to team members online at Inside Marshall.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\nAmit Patel is a Jacobs Space Exploration Group solid rocket motor design engineer supporting NASA\u2019s Marshall Space Flight Center.<\/div>\nNASA\/Charles Beason<\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\nAmit Patel is a Jacobs Space Exploration Group solid rocket motor design engineer supporting Marshall, where he has produced multiple iterations for solid rocket motors on NASA\u2019s Mars Ascent Vehicle and performed motor internal ballistics analysis on Space Launch System boosters and other programs. His key responsibilities include designing solid rocket motor grains, ensuring launch vehicles can meet mission requirements through ballistics performance analysis, manufacturing process flow, and testing.<\/p>\n
Patel has worked at Marshall for three years. He previously was a research engineer at the University of Alabama in Huntsville\u2019s Propulsion Research Center, where he worked on design and hot-fire testing of solid, liquid, and hybrids motors and developed a testbed for electric propulsion thrusters for small satellites. A North Alabama native, Patel earned his doctorate in aerospace systems engineering from the University of Alabama in Huntsville, along with a Master of Business Administration.<\/p>\n
Question:<\/strong> How does your work support the safety and success of NASA and Marshall missions?<\/p>\nPatel:<\/strong> My work directly contributes to the success of NASA and Marshall missions by ensuring that solid rocket motors are designed to meet the stringent performance and reliability requirements necessary for achieving target orbital insertions. Through careful motor optimization, requirements management, and post-test data analysis I can help maximize the probability of mission success.<\/p>\nQuestion:<\/strong> What does the Mission Success is in Our Hands initiative mean to you?<\/p>\nPatel: <\/strong>Overall, the Mission Success is in Our Hands initiative reminds us that whatever role we play, we all are an integral part in the technical excellence and unwavering dedication to safety in the pursuit of NASA\u2019s mission objectives. It serves as a reminder that the success of every mission is contingent upon the collective efforts and commitment of every individual involved, from engineers and scientists to administrators and support staff.<\/p>\nQuestion:<\/strong> How can we work together better to achieve mission success?<\/p>\nPatel:<\/strong> By prioritizing relationship-building within the team, we can harness the collective talents, creativity, and resilience of individuals to overcome engineering obstacles and contribute to the success of complex missions. We can build this synergy through enhanced communication, mutual respect and trust in one another, a shared understanding of goals and vision, and effective problem-solving when faced with challenges.<\/p>\nQuestion:<\/strong> Do you have anything else you\u2019d like to share?<\/p>\nPatel:<\/strong> The work we do in the aerospace industry has far-reaching implications that extend beyond the confines of Earth\u2019s atmosphere. By pushing the boundaries of exploration, innovation, and collaboration, we strive to leave a lasting legacy of progress and discovery that will benefit future generations and inspire them to reach even greater heights.<\/p>\nSmith, a Media Fusion employee and the Marshall Star editor, supports the Marshall Office of Communications.<\/em><\/p>\n\u203a Back to Top<\/a><\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\nPanelists Highlight Centennial Challenges at South by Southwest Conference<\/strong><\/h2>\nSouth by Southwest chose to feature a panel discussion on NASA\u2019s Prizes, Challenges, and Crowdsourcing program at this year\u2019s conference and festival in Austin, Texas, on March 10.<\/p>\n
Panelists from NASA\u2019s Marshall Space Flight Center, the agency\u2019s Johnson Space Center, and ICON Technology Inc. gave a presentation titled, \u201cHow NASA Supports Startups and Individuals to Collaborate on its Mission.\u201d The panel touched on several notable success stories from Centennial Challenges, the Center of Excellence for Collaborative Innovation, and NASA Tournament Lab, including ICON\u2019s journey from competing in NASA\u2019s 3D-Printed Habitat Challenge to securing multiple contracts and partnerships.<\/p>\n
\n\n\n<\/figure>\nFrom left, panelists Steve Rader from NASA\u2019s Johnson Space Center, Angela Herblet from the agency\u2019s Marshall Space Flight Center, Andrew Rothgaber from ICON Technology, and Savannah Bullard from Marshall discuss NASA\u2019s Prizes, Challenges, and Crowdsourcing program at the South by Southwest Conference on March 10 in Austin, Texas.<\/div>\nNASA\/Bailey Light<\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\nCentennial Challenges are part of the\u00a0Prizes, Challenges, and Crowdsourcing program<\/a>\u00a0within NASA\u2019s\u00a0Space Technology Mission Directorate<\/a>\u00a0and are managed at\u00a0Marshall.<\/p>\nCentennial Challenges were initiated in 2005 to directly engage the public in the process of advanced technology development. The program offers incentive prizes to generate revolutionary solutions to problems of interest to NASA and the nation. The program seeks innovations from diverse and non-traditional sources. Competitors are not supported by government funding and awards are only made to successful teams when the challenges are met.<\/p>\n
The annual South by Southwest Conference celebrates the convergence of technology, film and television, music, education, and culture.<\/p>\n
\u203a Back to Top<\/a><\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\nShuttle, Family Inspire NASA\u2019s Cryogenic Technology Manager<\/strong><\/h2>\nBy Daniel Boyette<\/em><\/p>\nJeremy Kenny squinted his eyes as he looked toward the brilliant light. Then came the deafening sound waves that vibrated his body. This was the moment he\u2019d dreamed about since childhood.<\/p>\n
It was Nov. 16, 2009, at NASA\u2019s Kennedy Space Center, and Kenny and his wife were watching space shuttle Atlantis embark on a mission to the International Space Station. Kenny, who was less than two years into his NASA career, had the opportunity to see the liftoff from Launch Pad 39A as part of receiving the Space Flight Awareness Award for supporting the Space Shuttle Program\u2019s solid rocket booster flight program.<\/p>\n
\n\n\n<\/figure>\nJeremy Kenny, manager of NASA\u2019s Cryogenic Fluid Management Portfolio Project, holds a model spacecraft for the proposed large cryogenic demonstration mission. The mission aims to demonstrate liquid hydrogen management, including near-zero propellant boil off and highly efficient propellant transfer, needed to achieve long-duration transit to\/from Mars and spacecraft loitering during on-surface campaigns.<\/div>\nCredit: NASA\/Danielle Burleson<\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\u201cThat was the first launch I ever witnessed in person,\u201d said Kenny, whose inspiration for working at NASA came from watching televised shuttle launches as a youth. \u201cIt was amazing and made me appreciate how such a powerful system could be designed and flown so successfully.\u201d<\/p>\n
With the final shuttle mission two years later, NASA set its sights on designing and building its future Artemis rocket: SLS (Space Launch System). Kenny was selected to lead the\u00a0SLS\u00a0Modal Acoustic Test program<\/a>, which helped engineers understand how loud the rocket would be during liftoff. He later joined another key Artemis effort, the\u00a0human landing system program<\/a>, as a technical manager, overseeing the development of lander systems that will transport astronauts to the Moon\u2019s surface.<\/p>\n\u201cArtemis is an inspiring campaign for future human spaceflight exploration,\u201d Kenny said. \u201cI worked with SLS, Orion, and Exploration Ground Systems, and it was very fulfilling to see all the pieces come together for the successful Artemis I launch.\u201d<\/p>\n
In January, Kenny was named manager of NASA\u2019s\u00a0Cryogenic Fluid Management<\/a>\u00a0(CFM) Portfolio project, where he oversees a cross-agency team based at NASA\u2019s Marshall Space Flight Center and Glenn Research Center. The CFM portfolio includes innovative technologies to store, transfer, and measure ultra-cold fluids \u2013 such as liquid hydrogen, liquid oxygen, and liquid methane. These cryogens are the most common propellants in space exploration, making CFM integral to NASA\u2019s future exploration and science efforts.<\/p>\n\u201cWe must mature CFM technologies to support future flight mission architectures,\u201d said Kenny. \u201cThe strong partnership between Marshall and Glenn in CFM maturation continues to produce excellent results, enabling in-space cryogenic systems vital to NASA\u2019s Moon to Mars vision.\u201d<\/p>\n
Kenny\u2019s choice of profession comes as little surprise, given his family background. He had a grandfather and an uncle who worked with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in the family\u2019s hometown of Vicksburg, Mississippi. From them, Kenny learned how math and physics could be implemented in real-world applications. He earned three degrees in mechanical engineering: a bachelor\u2019s from Mississippi State University in Starkville, a master\u2019s from Georgia Tech in Atlanta, and a doctorate from the University of Alabama in Huntsville.<\/p>\n
\u201cMy grandfather showed me various engineering software programs he worked on to simulate ground terrains for military transportation systems,\u201d Kenny said. \u201cMy uncle worked on engineering developments for various military systems; he was a key influence for me to pursue graduate degrees in mechanical engineering.\u201d<\/p>\n
When Kenny\u2019s not working to evolve technology for NASA\u2019s future deep space exploration missions, he\u2019s spending time with his wife and their two daughters, who are involved in choir and dance.<\/p>\n
\u201cWatching them practice and perform inspires me,\u201d Kenny said with a smile. \u201cMy biggest challenge is balancing my professional work, which I love, and spending time with my family, who I love. With work comes many exciting opportunities, and solving hard problems is fun. But that excitement should not detract from keeping your personal relationships healthy. One day, I\u2019ll retire and spend all my free time with family.\u201d<\/p>\n
The CFM Portfolio Project\u2019s work is under NASA\u2019s\u00a0Technology Demonstration Missions<\/a>\u00a0Program, part of NASA\u2019s\u00a0Space Technology Mission Directorate<\/a>, which oversees a broad portfolio of technology development and demonstration projects across NASA centers and American industry partners.<\/p>\nRead<\/a> more about Cryogenic Fluid Management.<\/p>\nBoyette, a Media Fusion employee, supports the Cryogenic Fluid Management Portfolio Project and Marshall\u2019s Office of Strategic Analysis & Communications.<\/em><\/p>\n\u203a Back to Top<\/a><\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\nNASA Continues Artemis Moon Rocket Engine Tests<\/strong><\/h2>\nNASA continued a key RS-25 engine test series for future Artemis flights of the agency\u2019s powerful SLS (Space Launch System) rocket March 22 and March 27 with hot fires on the Fred Haise Test Stand at NASA\u2019s Stennis Space Center.<\/p>\n
\n\n\n<\/figure>\nNASA continued a key RS-25 engine test series for future Artemis flights of the agency\u2019s powerful SLS (Space Launch System) rocket March 22 with a hot fire on the Fred Haise Test Stand at NASA\u2019s Stennis Space Center.<\/div>\nNASA\/Danny Nowlin<\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\nThe tests marked the 10th and 11th hot fire in a 12-test series to certify production of new\u00a0RS-25<\/a>\u00a0engines by lead contractor Aerojet Rocketdyne, an L3 Harris Technologies company.<\/p>\nOn March 22, the Stennis test team fired the certification engine for 500 seconds, or the same amount of time engines must fire to help launch the SLS rocket to space with astronauts aboard the Orion spacecraft. Operators powered the engine up to a level of 113%, which is beyond the 111% power level new RS-25 engines use to provide additional thrust. Testing up to the 113% power level provides a margin of operational safety.<\/p>\n
Newly produced engines<\/a> will power NASA\u2019s\u00a0SLS<\/a>\u00a0rocket on Artemis missions to the Moon and beyond, beginning with Artemis V. For Artemis missions I-IV, NASA and Aerojet Rocketdyne modified 16 former space shuttle engines for use on the SLS rocket. Four RS-25 engines fire simultaneously to help launch each SLS rocket, producing up to 2 million pounds of combined thrust.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\nThe Stennis test team fired the certification engine March 22 for 500 seconds, or the same amount of time engines must fire to help launch the SLS rocket to space with astronauts aboard the Orion spacecraft.<\/div>\nNASA\/Danny Nowlin<\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\nNASA\u2019s Marshall Space Flight Center manages the SLS Program.<\/p>\n
Through\u00a0Artemis<\/a>, NASA will establish the foundation for long-term scientific exploration at the Moon, land the first woman, first person of color, and first international partner astronaut on the lunar surface, and prepare for human expeditions to Mars for the benefit of all. RS-25 tests at NASA Stennis are conducted by a diverse team of operators from NASA, Aerojet Rocketdyne, and Syncom Space Services, prime contractor for site facilities and operations.<\/p>\n\u203a Back to Top<\/a><\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\nPayload Adapter Testing: A Key Step for Artemis IV Rocket\u2019s Success<\/strong><\/h2>\nA test article of the\u00a0SLS (Space Launch System<\/a>) rocket\u2019s payload adapter is ready for evaluation, marking a critical milestone on the journey to the hardware\u2019s debut on NASA\u2019s Artemis IV mission.<\/p>\nComprised of two metal rings and eight composite panels, the cone-shaped payload adapter will be part of the SLS\u00a0Block 1B configuration<\/a>\u00a0and housed inside the\u00a0universal stage adapter<\/a>\u00a0atop the rocket\u2019s more powerful in-space stage, called the exploration upper stage. The payload adapter is an evolution from the Orion stage adapter used in the Block 1 configuration of the first three Artemis missions that sits at the topmost portion of the rocket and helps connect the rocket and spacecraft.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\nKey adapters for the first crewed Artemis missions are manufactured at NASA\u2019s Marshall Space Flight Center. The cone-shaped payload adapter, left, will debut on the Block 1B configuration of the SLS rocket beginning with Artemis IV, while the Orion stage adapters, right, will be used for Artemis II and Artemis III.<\/div>\nNASA\/Sam Lott<\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\u201cLike the\u00a0Orion stage adapter<\/a>\u00a0and the launch vehicle stage adapter used for the first three SLS flights, the payload adapter for the evolved SLS Block 1B configuration is fully manufactured and tested at NASA\u2019s Marshall Space Flight Center,\u201d said Casey Wolfe, assistant branch chief for the advanced manufacturing branch at Marshall. \u201cMarshall\u2019s automated fiber placement and large-scale integration facilities provide our teams the ability to build composite hardware elements for multiple Artemis missions in parallel, allowing for cost and schedule savings.\u201d<\/p>\nAt about 8.5 feet tall, the payload adapter\u2019s eight composite sandwich panels, which measure about 12 feet each in length, contain a metallic honeycomb-style structure at their thickest point but taper to a single carbon fiber layer at each end. The panels are pieced together using a high-precision process called determinant assembly, in which each component is designed to fit securely in a specific place, like puzzle pieces.<\/p>\n
\n\n\n<\/figure>\nTeams at Marshall manufactured, prepared, and moved the payload adapter test article. The payload adapter will undergo testing in the same test stand that once housed the SLS liquid oxygen tank structure test article.<\/div>\nNASA<\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\nAfter manufacturing, the payload adapter will also be structurally tested at Marshall, which manages the SLS Program. The first structural test series begins this spring. Test teams will use the engineering development unit \u2013 an exact replica of the flight version of the hardware \u2013 to check the structure\u2019s strength and durability by twisting, shaking, and applying extreme pressure.<\/p>\n
While every\u00a0Block 1B configuration<\/a>\u00a0of the SLS rocket will use a payload adapter, each will be customized to fit the mission\u2019s needs. The determinant assembly method and digital tooling ensure a more efficient and uniform manufacturing process, regardless of the mission profile, to ensure hardware remains on schedule. Data from this test series will further inform design and manufacturing processes as teams begin manufacturing the qualification and flight hardware for Artemis IV.<\/p>\nNASA is working to land the first woman, first person of color, and its first international partner astronaut on the Moon under Artemis. SLS is part of NASA\u2019s backbone for deep space exploration, along with the Orion spacecraft and Gateway in orbit around the Moon and commercial human landing systems, next-generational spacesuits, and rovers on the lunar surface. SLS is the only rocket that can send Orion, astronauts, and supplies to the Moon in a single launch.<\/p>\n
\u203a Back to Top<\/a><\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\nChandra Identifies an Underachieving Black Hole<\/strong><\/h2>\nA new image shows a\u00a0quasar, a rapidly growing\u00a0supermassive black hole, which is not achieving what astronomers would expect from it, as reported in a press release<\/a>. Data from\u00a0NASA\u2019s Chandra X-ray Observatory<\/a>\u00a0(blue) and radio data from the NSF\u2019s Karl G. Jansky\u2019s Very Large Array (red) reveal some of the evidence for this quasar\u2019s disappointing impact on its host\u00a0galaxy.<\/p>\nKnown as H1821+643, this quasar is about 3.4 billion\u00a0light-years\u00a0from Earth. Quasars are a rare and extreme class of supermassive black holes that are furiously pulling material inwards, producing intense\u00a0radiation\u00a0and sometimes powerful\u00a0jets. H1821+643 is the closest quasar to Earth in a cluster of galaxies.<\/p>\n
\n\n\n<\/figure>\nThis composite image shows a quasar, a rare and extreme class of supermassive black hole. Known as H1821+643, this quasar is about 3.4 billion light-years from Earth.<\/div>\nX-ray: NASA\/CXC\/Univ. of Nottingham\/H. Russell et al.; Radio: NSF\/NRAO\/VLA; Image Processing: NASA\/CXC\/SAO\/N. Wolk<\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\nQuasars are different than other supermassive black holes in the centers of galaxy clusters in that they are pulling in more material at a higher rate. Astronomers have found that non-quasar black holes growing at moderate rates influence their surroundings by preventing the intergalactic hot gas from cooling down too much. This regulates the growth of\u00a0stars\u00a0around the black hole.<\/p>\n
The influence of quasars, however, is not as well known. This new study of H1821+643 that quasars \u2013 despite being so active \u2013 may be less important in driving the fate of their host galaxy and cluster than some scientists might expect.<\/p>\n
NASA\u2019s Marshall Space Flight Center hosted its 37th<\/sup> Small Business Alliance meeting March 21 at the U.S. Space & Rocket Center\u2019s Davidson Center for Space Exploration. The event brought together hundreds of attendees from 39 states and 21 countries to network and learn about opportunities to do business with NASA.<\/p>\n \u201cToday is about bringing the NASA marketplace directly to small businesses so they cannot only learn about how to get involved at NASA, but specifically in Huntsville and at Marshall,\u201d said David Brock, small business specialist in Marshall\u2019s Office of Procurement.<\/p>\n The mayors of Huntsville, Madison, and Decatur gave a series of welcome remarks and thanked small businesses for their positive impact on their communities and the local economy.<\/p>\n Lisa Bates, deputy director of Marshall\u2019s Engineering Directorate, emphasized the importance of small businesses to Marshall. \u201cWe have had so many tremendous accomplishments and so much of that is due to partnerships with small businesses,\u201d Bates said. \u201cWe\u2019ve done this together as a team.\u201d<\/p>\n Bates said that small businesses make up more than half of NASA\u2019s suppliers and 32 of the 45 SLS (Space Launch System) suppliers in Alabama.<\/p>\n \u201cI truly believe that teamwork and partnership is at the heart of every great achievement, and I look forward to being successful and exceptional with each of you,\u201d said Bates.<\/p>\n Smith, a Media Fusion employee, supports the Marshall Office of Communications.<\/em><\/p>\n \u203a Back to Top<\/a><\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n By Wayne Smith<\/em><\/p>\n Mitzi Adams watched several astronauts walk on the Moon when she was a teenager during NASA\u2019s Apollo missions. That\u2019s when Adams realized she wanted to be a NASA scientist. She also envisioned having an office on the lunar surface by 2000.<\/p>\n Today, Adams is<\/em> a NASA scientist at the agency\u2019s Marshall Space Flight Center. She is the assistant manager of the Heliophysics and Planetary Science branch of the Science and Technology Office. And while she doesn\u2019t have an office on the Moon, she does see a path for future scientists and explorers to reach that destination.<\/p>\n \u201cWe are on the cusp of landing another human on the Moon for the first time in more than 50 years,\u201d said Adams, who has worked at NASA for 35 years. \u201cThis time, however, there is a desire for a sustained presence, as well as a renewed interest in scientific research and discovery. If I were a high school student today, I feel that there would be a high probability that at least one of my offices would be located on the Moon in the not-too-distant future. There are many possibilities for this generation of students to be heavily involved in human space exploration. This is truly exciting.\u201d<\/p>\n Heliophysics<\/a> encompasses the study of the Sun and its effects on Earth, the solar system, and space itself. With the focus on the upcoming total solar eclipse April 8<\/a>, Adams said participating and organizing NASA outreach events for the 2017 eclipse is one of the proudest moments of her career.<\/p>\n \u201cWe partnered with the city of Hopkinsville, Kentucky, Austin Peay State University, the U.S. Space & Rocket Center, and The INSPIRE Project to involve high school students and the public in observations and science experiments surrounding the 2017 solar eclipse,\u201d said Adams, who is from Atlanta, Georgia. \u201cWe presented science topics to the students and allowed them to choose their observation site, based on their interests. In the intervening years since the eclipse, those INSPIRE Project students have been extremely successful, both in academics and in the business world. One of those students graduated from the Air Force Academy in 2022. That student is currently in flight school and expects to earn her wings in the next couple of months. We like to think that we were a positive influence on her and that the eclipse inspired her to obtain a STEM degree.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n Question:<\/strong> What excites you most about the future of human space exploration, or your NASA work, and your team\u2019s role it?<\/p>\n Adams:<\/strong> For the safety of astronauts who will remain on the surface of a world devoid of a protective atmosphere, as well as when traveling between the Earth and the Moon (or Mars), it is imperative that we understand better the Sun and space weather. To date, through a fleet of spacecraft studying the Sun, we have made great strides in nowcasting solar events, such as flares and coronal-mass ejections. In addition, through a sounding-rocket program, our scientists have contributed to basic knowledge of solar physics and are beginning to unravel the puzzle surrounding magnetic-reconnection events in the solar atmosphere that may be causing flares and coronal-mass ejections.<\/p>\n Question: <\/strong>Who or what drives\/motivates you?<\/p>\n Adams:<\/strong> Many things. As a teenager, I was inspired by Edgar Mitchell, lunar-module pilot on Apollo 14, whom I met and pestered throughout his life. He never discouraged me from my goals and always encouraged. I have always been a science fiction fan. I think my first science fiction book as a third-grade student was \u201cHave Space Suit \u2013 Will Travel,\u201d by Robert Heinlein. So, it was only natural that I became a Star Trek fan. From Star Trek, I was inspired by Nichelle Nichols, who played Lt. Uhura, and Leonard Nimoy, who played Mr. Spock, a science officer.\u00a0<\/p>\n When I speak to students, I ask what they think is the most important attribute of a scientist. The answer I seek from them is curiosity<\/em> \u2013 puzzles and mysteries drive and motivate me. Observing the Sun, I have seen eruptions and phenomena that I want to understand, which drives me to access those data and do the analysis!\u00a0<\/p>\n Question: <\/strong>Who or what inspired you to pursue an education\/career that led you to NASA and Marshall?<\/p>\n Adams:<\/strong> I\u2019ve always wanted to be a scientist and I could have studied geology or astronomy. Since becoming an astronaut also was a goal, I decided that astronomy would be the best path. Specifically, as I was about to obtain my undergraduate degree from Georgia State University, I thought I needed internship experience. Since one of my caving friends, Joe Dabbs, worked at Marshall, I asked if he knew anyone who might need a summer student. Joe put me in touch with Ron Moore with NASA and Gordon Emslie of the University of Alabama in Huntsville (UAH), who hired me for the summer. They apparently were pleased with my work because they suggested I apply to UAH for graduate school and to the graduate co-op program. I was accepted by both and earned a master\u2019s degree in physics from UAH, after which I was hired by Marshall as a research scientist in solar physics.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n Question:<\/strong> What advice do you have for employees early in their NASA career or those in new leadership roles?<\/p>\n Adams:<\/strong> Networking is important. Engage with colleagues at meetings and seek out collaborations. Read research papers and contact those scientists who are included in the references list. Don\u2019t be intimidated by scientists who have a lot of experience. If a problem\/question in your research world is appealing, find ways you can contribute to finding solutions and ask the first or second author scientist if you can help.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n Question: <\/strong>What do you enjoy doing with your time while away from work?<\/p>\n Adams:<\/strong> Believe it or not, I enjoy reading Latin in small doses and have read two of the Harry Potter books in Latin, with help from two friends. I also enjoy hiking on trails, playing with my 3-year-old white Shepherd named Albus, which means white in Latin, and reading and watching science fiction.<\/p>\n Smith, a Media Fusion employee and the Marshall Star editor, supports the Marshall Office of Communications.<\/em><\/p>\n \u203a Back to Top<\/a><\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n Steven J. (Steve) Wofford has been named to the Senior Executive Service position of manager of the SLS (Space Launch System) Stages Office at NASA\u2019s Marshall Space Flight Center.<\/p>\n In his new role, he will lead activities and operations associated with the core stage, associated main propulsion systems, and integration of the vehicle avionics system.\u00a0Wofford\u00a0also will be responsible for support equipment and facilities used in the design, development, test, and transfer of SLS core stages. He previously was appointed as manager of the Block 1B\/Exploration Upper Stage Development Office at Marshall in 2020.<\/p>\n From 2014 to 2020,\u00a0Wofford\u00a0was manager of the SLS Program\u2019s Liquid Engines Office at Marshall. From 2012 to 2014, he was deputy director of Marshall\u2019s Safety and Mission Assurance Directorate, where he was responsible for overseeing safe execution of all center programs, projects, and institutional services. He was business manager for the Safety and Mission Assurance Directorate from 2011 to 2012.<\/p>\n From 2009 to 2011,\u00a0Wofford\u00a0was deputy manager of the Space Shuttle Main Engine Project Office at Marshall, helping to see the shuttle program to its successful conclusion in 2011. He was Shuttle Propulsion chief safety officer for the Safety and Mission Assurance Directorate from 2006 to 2009, formulating and communicating flight safety guidance and serving as Marshall\u2019s safety technical authority on a wide gamut of propulsion technical issues.<\/p>\n In 2005 and 2006, he led engine component design and development for engine technologies supporting the Ares I and Ares V launch vehicles, next-generation rocket development programs that helped inform work resulting in the design, delivery, and manufacture of SLS engine systems.<\/p>\n Wofford\u00a0began his NASA career in 2000 as a subsystem manager in Marshall\u2019s Space Shuttle Main Engine Project Office. Before that, he supported the agency for more than 13 years as a contractor engineer, conducting assessment engineering and project integration engineering duties in support of the space shuttle main engine.<\/p>\n A Huntsville native,\u00a0Wofford\u00a0earned a bachelor\u2019s degree in mechanical engineering in 1986 from the University of Alabama, and a master\u2019s degree in aerospace engineering in 1991 from the University of Alabama in Huntsville.<\/p>\n His numerous career honors include a NASA Exceptional Achievement Medal in 2009 for his leadership in defining, implementing, and executing safety and mission assurance technical authority for the Space Shuttle Program. He also received a NASA Silver Snoopy Award in 1998, presented to team members who have made significant contributions to the human spaceflight program; and a Spaceflight Awareness Award in 1992 for his contributions as a contractor to the space shuttle main engine. In 2018, he was named a distinguished fellow of the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa\u2019s College of Engineering.<\/p>\n Wofford\u00a0and his wife, Marisa, reside in Huntsville and have two sons.<\/p>\n \u203a Back to Top<\/a><\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n The Women of Excellence employee resource group at NASA\u2019s Marshall Space Flight Center hosted an event March 18 in association with Women\u2019s History Month.<\/p>\n The event, titled \u201cSelf-Ignite into Destiny: A Pivot from Stressful Environments,\u201d was part of NASA\u2019s agencywide table-talk series.<\/p>\n Shehnaz Soni, a NASA senior systems engineer, author, and speaker, discussed her story, methodologies to reduce stress, and the importance of self-care in a unique way, reiterating that \u201cWe Are the Quantum Being.\u201d<\/p>\n Women of Excellence, or WE, is co-chaired by LaBreesha Batey and Denise Smithers. The group\u2019s aim is to help Marshall women reach their full potential and have access to equal opportunities at NASA. Team members can visit Inside Marshall to learn more about WE and other employee resource groups.<\/p>\n \u203a Back to Top<\/a><\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n By Wayne Smith<\/em><\/p>\n Mission Success is in Our Hands is a safety initiative collaboration between NASA\u2019s Marshall Space Flight Center and Jacobs. As part of the initiative, eight Marshall team members are featured in testimonial banners placed around the center. This is the fifth in a Marshall Star series profiling team members featured in the testimonial banners. The Mission Success team also awards the Golden Eagle Award on a quarterly basis to Marshall and contractor personnel who are nominated by their peers or management. Candidates for this award have made significant, identifiable contributions that exceed normal job expectations to advance flight safety and mission assurance. Nominations are open now to team members online at Inside Marshall.<\/em><\/p>\n Amit Patel is a Jacobs Space Exploration Group solid rocket motor design engineer supporting Marshall, where he has produced multiple iterations for solid rocket motors on NASA\u2019s Mars Ascent Vehicle and performed motor internal ballistics analysis on Space Launch System boosters and other programs. His key responsibilities include designing solid rocket motor grains, ensuring launch vehicles can meet mission requirements through ballistics performance analysis, manufacturing process flow, and testing.<\/p>\n Patel has worked at Marshall for three years. He previously was a research engineer at the University of Alabama in Huntsville\u2019s Propulsion Research Center, where he worked on design and hot-fire testing of solid, liquid, and hybrids motors and developed a testbed for electric propulsion thrusters for small satellites. A North Alabama native, Patel earned his doctorate in aerospace systems engineering from the University of Alabama in Huntsville, along with a Master of Business Administration.<\/p>\n Question:<\/strong> How does your work support the safety and success of NASA and Marshall missions?<\/p>\n Patel:<\/strong> My work directly contributes to the success of NASA and Marshall missions by ensuring that solid rocket motors are designed to meet the stringent performance and reliability requirements necessary for achieving target orbital insertions. Through careful motor optimization, requirements management, and post-test data analysis I can help maximize the probability of mission success.<\/p>\n Question:<\/strong> What does the Mission Success is in Our Hands initiative mean to you?<\/p>\n Patel: <\/strong>Overall, the Mission Success is in Our Hands initiative reminds us that whatever role we play, we all are an integral part in the technical excellence and unwavering dedication to safety in the pursuit of NASA\u2019s mission objectives. It serves as a reminder that the success of every mission is contingent upon the collective efforts and commitment of every individual involved, from engineers and scientists to administrators and support staff.<\/p>\n Question:<\/strong> How can we work together better to achieve mission success?<\/p>\n Patel:<\/strong> By prioritizing relationship-building within the team, we can harness the collective talents, creativity, and resilience of individuals to overcome engineering obstacles and contribute to the success of complex missions. We can build this synergy through enhanced communication, mutual respect and trust in one another, a shared understanding of goals and vision, and effective problem-solving when faced with challenges.<\/p>\n Question:<\/strong> Do you have anything else you\u2019d like to share?<\/p>\n Patel:<\/strong> The work we do in the aerospace industry has far-reaching implications that extend beyond the confines of Earth\u2019s atmosphere. By pushing the boundaries of exploration, innovation, and collaboration, we strive to leave a lasting legacy of progress and discovery that will benefit future generations and inspire them to reach even greater heights.<\/p>\n Smith, a Media Fusion employee and the Marshall Star editor, supports the Marshall Office of Communications.<\/em><\/p>\n \u203a Back to Top<\/a><\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n South by Southwest chose to feature a panel discussion on NASA\u2019s Prizes, Challenges, and Crowdsourcing program at this year\u2019s conference and festival in Austin, Texas, on March 10.<\/p>\n Panelists from NASA\u2019s Marshall Space Flight Center, the agency\u2019s Johnson Space Center, and ICON Technology Inc. gave a presentation titled, \u201cHow NASA Supports Startups and Individuals to Collaborate on its Mission.\u201d The panel touched on several notable success stories from Centennial Challenges, the Center of Excellence for Collaborative Innovation, and NASA Tournament Lab, including ICON\u2019s journey from competing in NASA\u2019s 3D-Printed Habitat Challenge to securing multiple contracts and partnerships.<\/p>\n Centennial Challenges are part of the\u00a0Prizes, Challenges, and Crowdsourcing program<\/a>\u00a0within NASA\u2019s\u00a0Space Technology Mission Directorate<\/a>\u00a0and are managed at\u00a0Marshall.<\/p>\n Centennial Challenges were initiated in 2005 to directly engage the public in the process of advanced technology development. The program offers incentive prizes to generate revolutionary solutions to problems of interest to NASA and the nation. The program seeks innovations from diverse and non-traditional sources. Competitors are not supported by government funding and awards are only made to successful teams when the challenges are met.<\/p>\n The annual South by Southwest Conference celebrates the convergence of technology, film and television, music, education, and culture.<\/p>\n \u203a Back to Top<\/a><\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n By Daniel Boyette<\/em><\/p>\n Jeremy Kenny squinted his eyes as he looked toward the brilliant light. Then came the deafening sound waves that vibrated his body. This was the moment he\u2019d dreamed about since childhood.<\/p>\n It was Nov. 16, 2009, at NASA\u2019s Kennedy Space Center, and Kenny and his wife were watching space shuttle Atlantis embark on a mission to the International Space Station. Kenny, who was less than two years into his NASA career, had the opportunity to see the liftoff from Launch Pad 39A as part of receiving the Space Flight Awareness Award for supporting the Space Shuttle Program\u2019s solid rocket booster flight program.<\/p>\n \u201cThat was the first launch I ever witnessed in person,\u201d said Kenny, whose inspiration for working at NASA came from watching televised shuttle launches as a youth. \u201cIt was amazing and made me appreciate how such a powerful system could be designed and flown so successfully.\u201d<\/p>\n With the final shuttle mission two years later, NASA set its sights on designing and building its future Artemis rocket: SLS (Space Launch System). Kenny was selected to lead the\u00a0SLS\u00a0Modal Acoustic Test program<\/a>, which helped engineers understand how loud the rocket would be during liftoff. He later joined another key Artemis effort, the\u00a0human landing system program<\/a>, as a technical manager, overseeing the development of lander systems that will transport astronauts to the Moon\u2019s surface.<\/p>\n \u201cArtemis is an inspiring campaign for future human spaceflight exploration,\u201d Kenny said. \u201cI worked with SLS, Orion, and Exploration Ground Systems, and it was very fulfilling to see all the pieces come together for the successful Artemis I launch.\u201d<\/p>\n In January, Kenny was named manager of NASA\u2019s\u00a0Cryogenic Fluid Management<\/a>\u00a0(CFM) Portfolio project, where he oversees a cross-agency team based at NASA\u2019s Marshall Space Flight Center and Glenn Research Center. The CFM portfolio includes innovative technologies to store, transfer, and measure ultra-cold fluids \u2013 such as liquid hydrogen, liquid oxygen, and liquid methane. These cryogens are the most common propellants in space exploration, making CFM integral to NASA\u2019s future exploration and science efforts.<\/p>\n \u201cWe must mature CFM technologies to support future flight mission architectures,\u201d said Kenny. \u201cThe strong partnership between Marshall and Glenn in CFM maturation continues to produce excellent results, enabling in-space cryogenic systems vital to NASA\u2019s Moon to Mars vision.\u201d<\/p>\n Kenny\u2019s choice of profession comes as little surprise, given his family background. He had a grandfather and an uncle who worked with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in the family\u2019s hometown of Vicksburg, Mississippi. From them, Kenny learned how math and physics could be implemented in real-world applications. He earned three degrees in mechanical engineering: a bachelor\u2019s from Mississippi State University in Starkville, a master\u2019s from Georgia Tech in Atlanta, and a doctorate from the University of Alabama in Huntsville.<\/p>\n \u201cMy grandfather showed me various engineering software programs he worked on to simulate ground terrains for military transportation systems,\u201d Kenny said. \u201cMy uncle worked on engineering developments for various military systems; he was a key influence for me to pursue graduate degrees in mechanical engineering.\u201d<\/p>\n When Kenny\u2019s not working to evolve technology for NASA\u2019s future deep space exploration missions, he\u2019s spending time with his wife and their two daughters, who are involved in choir and dance.<\/p>\n \u201cWatching them practice and perform inspires me,\u201d Kenny said with a smile. \u201cMy biggest challenge is balancing my professional work, which I love, and spending time with my family, who I love. With work comes many exciting opportunities, and solving hard problems is fun. But that excitement should not detract from keeping your personal relationships healthy. One day, I\u2019ll retire and spend all my free time with family.\u201d<\/p>\n The CFM Portfolio Project\u2019s work is under NASA\u2019s\u00a0Technology Demonstration Missions<\/a>\u00a0Program, part of NASA\u2019s\u00a0Space Technology Mission Directorate<\/a>, which oversees a broad portfolio of technology development and demonstration projects across NASA centers and American industry partners.<\/p>\n Read<\/a> more about Cryogenic Fluid Management.<\/p>\n Boyette, a Media Fusion employee, supports the Cryogenic Fluid Management Portfolio Project and Marshall\u2019s Office of Strategic Analysis & Communications.<\/em><\/p>\n \u203a Back to Top<\/a><\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n NASA continued a key RS-25 engine test series for future Artemis flights of the agency\u2019s powerful SLS (Space Launch System) rocket March 22 and March 27 with hot fires on the Fred Haise Test Stand at NASA\u2019s Stennis Space Center.<\/p>\n The tests marked the 10th and 11th hot fire in a 12-test series to certify production of new\u00a0RS-25<\/a>\u00a0engines by lead contractor Aerojet Rocketdyne, an L3 Harris Technologies company.<\/p>\n On March 22, the Stennis test team fired the certification engine for 500 seconds, or the same amount of time engines must fire to help launch the SLS rocket to space with astronauts aboard the Orion spacecraft. Operators powered the engine up to a level of 113%, which is beyond the 111% power level new RS-25 engines use to provide additional thrust. Testing up to the 113% power level provides a margin of operational safety.<\/p>\n Newly produced engines<\/a> will power NASA\u2019s\u00a0SLS<\/a>\u00a0rocket on Artemis missions to the Moon and beyond, beginning with Artemis V. For Artemis missions I-IV, NASA and Aerojet Rocketdyne modified 16 former space shuttle engines for use on the SLS rocket. Four RS-25 engines fire simultaneously to help launch each SLS rocket, producing up to 2 million pounds of combined thrust.<\/p>\n NASA\u2019s Marshall Space Flight Center manages the SLS Program.<\/p>\n Through\u00a0Artemis<\/a>, NASA will establish the foundation for long-term scientific exploration at the Moon, land the first woman, first person of color, and first international partner astronaut on the lunar surface, and prepare for human expeditions to Mars for the benefit of all. RS-25 tests at NASA Stennis are conducted by a diverse team of operators from NASA, Aerojet Rocketdyne, and Syncom Space Services, prime contractor for site facilities and operations.<\/p>\n \u203a Back to Top<\/a><\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n A test article of the\u00a0SLS (Space Launch System<\/a>) rocket\u2019s payload adapter is ready for evaluation, marking a critical milestone on the journey to the hardware\u2019s debut on NASA\u2019s Artemis IV mission.<\/p>\n Comprised of two metal rings and eight composite panels, the cone-shaped payload adapter will be part of the SLS\u00a0Block 1B configuration<\/a>\u00a0and housed inside the\u00a0universal stage adapter<\/a>\u00a0atop the rocket\u2019s more powerful in-space stage, called the exploration upper stage. The payload adapter is an evolution from the Orion stage adapter used in the Block 1 configuration of the first three Artemis missions that sits at the topmost portion of the rocket and helps connect the rocket and spacecraft.<\/p>\n \u201cLike the\u00a0Orion stage adapter<\/a>\u00a0and the launch vehicle stage adapter used for the first three SLS flights, the payload adapter for the evolved SLS Block 1B configuration is fully manufactured and tested at NASA\u2019s Marshall Space Flight Center,\u201d said Casey Wolfe, assistant branch chief for the advanced manufacturing branch at Marshall. \u201cMarshall\u2019s automated fiber placement and large-scale integration facilities provide our teams the ability to build composite hardware elements for multiple Artemis missions in parallel, allowing for cost and schedule savings.\u201d<\/p>\n At about 8.5 feet tall, the payload adapter\u2019s eight composite sandwich panels, which measure about 12 feet each in length, contain a metallic honeycomb-style structure at their thickest point but taper to a single carbon fiber layer at each end. The panels are pieced together using a high-precision process called determinant assembly, in which each component is designed to fit securely in a specific place, like puzzle pieces.<\/p>\n After manufacturing, the payload adapter will also be structurally tested at Marshall, which manages the SLS Program. The first structural test series begins this spring. Test teams will use the engineering development unit \u2013 an exact replica of the flight version of the hardware \u2013 to check the structure\u2019s strength and durability by twisting, shaking, and applying extreme pressure.<\/p>\n While every\u00a0Block 1B configuration<\/a>\u00a0of the SLS rocket will use a payload adapter, each will be customized to fit the mission\u2019s needs. The determinant assembly method and digital tooling ensure a more efficient and uniform manufacturing process, regardless of the mission profile, to ensure hardware remains on schedule. Data from this test series will further inform design and manufacturing processes as teams begin manufacturing the qualification and flight hardware for Artemis IV.<\/p>\n NASA is working to land the first woman, first person of color, and its first international partner astronaut on the Moon under Artemis. SLS is part of NASA\u2019s backbone for deep space exploration, along with the Orion spacecraft and Gateway in orbit around the Moon and commercial human landing systems, next-generational spacesuits, and rovers on the lunar surface. SLS is the only rocket that can send Orion, astronauts, and supplies to the Moon in a single launch.<\/p>\n \u203a Back to Top<\/a><\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n A new image shows a\u00a0quasar, a rapidly growing\u00a0supermassive black hole, which is not achieving what astronomers would expect from it, as reported in a press release<\/a>. Data from\u00a0NASA\u2019s Chandra X-ray Observatory<\/a>\u00a0(blue) and radio data from the NSF\u2019s Karl G. Jansky\u2019s Very Large Array (red) reveal some of the evidence for this quasar\u2019s disappointing impact on its host\u00a0galaxy.<\/p>\n Known as H1821+643, this quasar is about 3.4 billion\u00a0light-years\u00a0from Earth. Quasars are a rare and extreme class of supermassive black holes that are furiously pulling material inwards, producing intense\u00a0radiation\u00a0and sometimes powerful\u00a0jets. H1821+643 is the closest quasar to Earth in a cluster of galaxies.<\/p>\n Quasars are different than other supermassive black holes in the centers of galaxy clusters in that they are pulling in more material at a higher rate. Astronomers have found that non-quasar black holes growing at moderate rates influence their surroundings by preventing the intergalactic hot gas from cooling down too much. This regulates the growth of\u00a0stars\u00a0around the black hole.<\/p>\n The influence of quasars, however, is not as well known. This new study of H1821+643 that quasars \u2013 despite being so active \u2013 may be less important in driving the fate of their host galaxy and cluster than some scientists might expect.<\/p>\n<\/figure><\/figure>Take 5 with Mitzi Adams<\/strong><\/h2>\n
<\/figure>Steven Wofford Named Manager of SLS Stages Office at Marshall<\/strong><\/h2>\n
<\/figure>Marshall\u2019s Women of Excellence Host Author for Women\u2019s History Month Event<\/strong><\/h2>\n
<\/figure>Mission Success is in Our Hands: Amit Patel<\/strong><\/h2>\n
<\/figure>Panelists Highlight Centennial Challenges at South by Southwest Conference<\/strong><\/h2>\n
<\/figure>Shuttle, Family Inspire NASA\u2019s Cryogenic Technology Manager<\/strong><\/h2>\n
<\/figure>NASA Continues Artemis Moon Rocket Engine Tests<\/strong><\/h2>\n
<\/figure><\/figure>Payload Adapter Testing: A Key Step for Artemis IV Rocket\u2019s Success<\/strong><\/h2>\n
<\/figure><\/figure>Chandra Identifies an Underachieving Black Hole<\/strong><\/h2>\n
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